A New York State Supreme Court judge on Monday convicted Daniel Hyden on all 12 counts related to a fatal July Fourth car-ramming incident in New York City.
Four were killed and seven others were injured during the July Fourth festivities when a car plowed through a crowd that had congregated at a Lower East Side park.
Hyden, 46, was accused of being drunk behind the wheel when he crashed into the crowd. On Monday, he was convicted of four counts of second-degree murder, four counts of second-degree assault, three counts of second-degree assault and one count of aggravated vehicular homicide.
“While this verdict won’t bring [the victims] back to life, I hope that this conviction can bring at least some measure of comfort for their friends and family,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. said in a statement announcing the conviction.
According to evidence shown in court, Hyden was driving his Ford F-150 pickup on Water Street while intoxicated at about 8:55 p.m. EDT.
At 54 mph, Hyden sped through a stop sign, a construction zone and a sidewalk, before ramming through a chain-link fence and striking a large crowd celebrating the Fourth of July at Corlears Hook Park.
“Hyden had fully pressed down his gas pedal and did not hit his brakes until one-half second before the final crash,” the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said.
“Four people were trapped underneath the pickup truck, with seven others struck and injured by the truck or debris.”
Hyden attempted to flee the scene by throwing the pickup in reverse, but was stopped by witnesses who removed the vehicle’s keys from the ignition.
Ana Morel, 43, and Lucille and Herman Pinkney, ages 59 and 38, respectively, were pronounced dead at the scene. Emily Ruiz, who never regained consciousness following the crash, died five days later at the hospital.
Hyden is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3.
NEW: Today we announced the all-count trial conviction of Daniel Hyden for driving while intoxicated and crashing into a crowd of people celebrating the Fourth of July in Corlears Hook Park, killing four people, and injuring seven others. More here: https://t.co/D4Bfle78lJ pic.twitter.com/sPVHYYD0wu— Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) November 3, 2025
